Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Warriors forward Draymond Green suspended for Game 3 vs. Kings

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended one game without pay for stepping on the chest of Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis, it was announced yesterday by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. The suspension was based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.

Green’s actions were in response to Sabonis grabbing and holding Green’s right ankle after falling to the floor. Green received a Flagrant Foul 2 and was ejected, and Sabonis was assessed a technical foul.

The incident occurred with 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ 114-106 loss to the Kings in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on April 17 at Golden 1 Center.

Green will serve his suspension April 20 when the Warriors host the Kings for Game 3 of the series at Chase Center.

Orlando Magic hire Arnie Kander as vice president of player performance and wellness

The Orlando Magic have named Arnie Kander as vice president of player performance and wellness, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Kander, who brings more than 24 seasons of NBA experience, will be responsible for overseeing the Magic’s high performance staff, including the management of athletic training services, injury reduction and rehabilitation programming, strength and conditioning, sports science and recovery, and player nutrition.

“We are thrilled to welcome Arnie (Kander) to the Magic family,” said Weltman. “Over his career, Arnie has helped define the space of player performance. His experience and expertise will be invaluable as we train and care for our players. We look forward to him leading our performance team.”

An innovator in the fields of injury prevention, sports rehabilitation and physical conditioning, Kander is renowned in the professional sports world for his unique methods of application. He has designed recovery and workout programs that have proven to be successful.

Kander spent 23 seasons with the Detroit Pistons, originally joining the team during the spring of 1992, when he became the team’s first strength and conditioning coach. His duties in Detroit included the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, as well as the design and implementation of specific programs that are aimed at enhancing individual players’ flexibility, strength and aerobic conditioning.

Kander also spent the 2015-16 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves as vice president of sports performance. Following his stint with Minnesota, Kander consulted with the Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers, while also working individually with a host of NBA players.

Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. wins 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. was named the 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the NBA announced today.

This marks the first NBA Defensive Player of the Year award for Jackson Jr., who becomes the second player in franchise history to receive the honor (Marc Gasol in 2012-13). Jackson Jr. is the second-youngest player in NBA history (Dwight Howard) to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year and becomes one of four 23-year-olds to win the award (Kawhi Leonard in 2014-15; Howard in 2007-08; Alvin Robertson in 1985-86).

The 6-foot-11 Jackson Jr., whose defense helped propel the Grizzlies to a 51-31 record (second in the Western Conference) and the team’s second straight Southwest Division championship, received 391 points (56 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

Jackson Jr. led the NBA in blocks per game (3.0) and block percentage (9.6) for the second consecutive season and tied for second in total blocks (189). He surpassed his own single-season franchise records in all three categories while also establishing career bests with 18.6 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Behind Jackson Jr., Memphis led the Western Conference and ranked third in the NBA in defensive rating (110.7) and held opponents to the lowest field goal percentage (45.3%) and largest field goal percentage difference (-2.2%). Individually, when serving as the primary defender, Jackson Jr. led the NBA in field goal percentage allowed at the rim (46.9% on 454 contests) with a minimum of 20 shots defended.

Jackson Jr. also averaged 1.0 steals per game and led the NBA in combined steals and blocks per game (career-high and franchise-record 4.0). He became one of four players since the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award was instituted in the 1982-83 season to lead his team to a Top 5 defensive rating while also averaging at least 1.0 steals and 3.0 blocks, joining Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Ben Wallace.

The five-year NBA veteran was named to the 2021-22 NBA All-Defensive First Team last season. He was selected by Memphis with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft following his freshman year at Michigan State University, where he won the 2017-18 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award.

Milwaukee’s Brook Lopez (309 points, 31 first-place votes) and Cleveland’s Evan Mobley (101 points, eight first-place votes) finished second and third in the voting, respectively.

Magic forward Paolo Banchero had an outstanding rookie season

Via the Orlando Sentinel:

As the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero faced a plethora of expectations — internally and externally.

He met his own exceptions as a rookie while exceeding others.

“I wouldn’t say I exceeded them but I definitely met them,” Banchero said. “I did everything I wanted to do in my first year. It’s definitely time to take it to another level this next year. That’s what I’m excited about.”

While shifting his focus to his offseason work, Banchero also took time to reflect on the season that led to him being the betting favorite for Rookie of the Year.

With averages of 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists, he became the 12th rookie in the league’s history to average at least 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for a season.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo dealing with a back contusion

Via the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

It might not have appeared that way Sunday, but the Milwaukee Bucks have already shown this season they can have their way with the Miami Heat even when Giannis Antetokounmpo is not fully healthy.

That is especially meaningful at the moment with the Bucks All-Star forward dealing with a back contusion and Milwaukee down 1-0 to Heat in this best-of-seven Eastern Conference opening round NBA playoff series that continues Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Fiserv Forum.

On March 24, despite Antetokounmpo being lost 6:28 into the game due to a knee injury, the Bucks throttled the Heat 128-99.

Orlando Magic relocating their G League team to Kissimmee, rebranding them as the Osceola Magic

The Orlando Magic will relocate its NBA G League affiliate to Kissimmee, FL, and it will be rebranded as the Osceola Magic. Their new home will be in Osceola Heritage Park, beginning play at Silver Spurs Arena in November 2023, CEO and Managing Partner Alex Martins announced today.

“We are excited to bring the Magic and NBA G League basketball to Osceola County, Kissimmee and Osceola Heritage Park,” said Martins. “We would like to thank Osceola County Chairwoman Viviana Janer, County Manager Don Fisher and Osceola Heritage Park General Manager Robb Larson in assisting us in making this move a reality. We look forward to being an invested community partner in Kissimmee and Osceola County.”

“Osceola County’s strategic planning continues to attract top tier organizations that share in our vision for the community,” said Janer. “We are honored to have the Osceola Magic make their new home at OHP. When it comes to sports and entertainment, we already host many premium events and organizations. Today, I’m proud that the Orlando Magic organization is joining the list of marquee partners that call Osceola County and Osceola Heritage Park their home. We look forward to cheering on our new team and welcoming fans from all over to experience the magic of Osceola County.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Osceola Magic to our community and to Osceola Heritage Park,” said Larson. “This partnership will not only bring exciting professional basketball games to Osceola County, but also provide opportunities to local businesses and tourism. We look forward to working closely with the team to create a memorable experience for fans and players alike.”

Lakers sign Shaquille Harrison and Tristan Thompson, waive Davon Reed

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Shaquille Harrison and center Tristan Thompson.

And in a related move, the Lakers requested waivers on forward Davon Reed.

Harrison (6’4”, 195) most recently played for the Portland Trail Blazers after signing a 10-day contract with the team on March 30. In five appearances with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.2 steals in 24.0 minutes. In 180 career games (23 starts) across six NBA seasons with the Trail Blazers (2022-23), Nets (2021-22), Nuggets (2020-21), Jazz (2020-21), Bulls (2018-20) and Suns (2017-18), Harrison has averaged 5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 15.4 minutes per game. The 29-year-old has played in nine career playoff games with the Nuggets (2020-21), averaging 1.0 points in 4.5 minutes. The 2021-22 NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year appeared in 32 regular season games (all starts) for the South Bay Lakers this season, averaging 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 2.1 steals in 32.5 minutes per game and was the only player in the NBA G League this season to be in the top five in both assists and steals per game.

Thompson (6’9”, 254) has appeared in 730 career games (478 starts) across 11 seasons with the Bulls (2021-22), Pacers (2021-22), Kings (2021-22), Celtics (2020-21) and Cavaliers (2011-20), averaging 9.0 points (.519 FG%), 8.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 26.8 minutes. The 2016 NBA Champion has played in 88 career playoff games (70 starts) with the Bulls (2021-22), Celtics (2020-21) and Cavaliers (2014-18), averaging 7.4 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 56.4 percent from the field. Thompson most recently appeared in 57 games (six starts) for Chicago, Indiana and Sacramento during the 2021-22 season, where he averaged 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game. Thompson has recorded 185 double-doubles throughout his career and has shot over 50 percent from the field in his previous eight seasons.

Reed appeared in eight games for the Lakers this season, averaging 1.0 points in 3.4 minutes per game. The 27-year-old was acquired by Los Angeles on Feb. 9.

Pelicans sign Dereon Seabron to two-way contract

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Dereon Seabron to a two-way contract.

Seabron, 6-7, 180, appeared in five games off the bench this season with New Orleans. Originally signed to a two-way contract on September 9, Seabron appeared in 28 games (25 starts) with the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron. Seabron averaged 17.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per contest.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 17 players, including two two-way players.

Rockets sign Willie Cauley-Stein

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent center Willie Cauley-Stein.

Cauley-Stein (7-0, 240) was briefly with the Rockets during the preseason before joining their NBA G League affiliate Rio Grande Valley. He signed a 10-day contract with Houston on Feb. 27 and rejoined the Vipers following that stint. Rio Grande Valley advanced to the G League Finals, which concluded on Thursday.

In 422 career NBA games with 256 starts, Cauley-Stein has averaged 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 22.0 minutes per game. He is shooting 54.4% from the floor for his career, including 59.0% over the past three seasons.